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bough forbidden fruit.

For lechery, like plaster o'er the walls,

They have no tolerance within their souls:

But there are those who will stalk any game.

Nor like myself, do they beauty demand.

If matters not if but the figure wears

Garb feminine, they'll ready take the scent,

And like to well trained hounds leave not the trail

Until the quarry is at length run down.

And this I must apply to Francos' ear,

Thus breeding deep contempt, clothed with distrust,

For him who puketh up a sour disdain,

From stomach filled with racial prejudice,

That shall his downfall speed, helped by the spleen,

Which pampered youth, fed with a golden spoon,

Must ever show, whene'er its will is crossed.

And thus will I proceed to "cook his goose,"

Until the flesh shall cleave from off its bones.

But as it seemeth to my anxious mind,

I read uncertainty in Francos' eye,

"The welfare of thy people" once he voiced,

Such words make music not unto mine ear.

(Disdainfully)

"Thy people!" So it is that Francos speaks.

Ah! little do the workings of his mind

Discern that we who seek the pow'r to rule

Feel not the Tao blood coursing our veins.

For it by stain Caucasian is submerged;

Still, we a ladder make of sable backs,

To climb aloft into the chairs of state.

Exampling thus: "The fittest must survive".

A narrow man, though cast in honest mould,

May mischief work, while conscience wears a smile.

To Francos' I would dare not ope my heart,

So I must feel my way with catlike tread,

And strive with minor things to stuff him full,

So points of import shall his mind escape.

Francos (drawing near):

I bid thee happy morn, illustrious friend;

A morn portending a most perfect day.

Quezox:

'Tis thus our morn politic brightly breaks

But storms, by Jove engendered, may e'er Night

Enfolds her sable mantle for repose,

Wither the budding dreams that fill our breasts,

And deep within the cave of darkness cast

Ambitions holy which now swell to burst.

Francos:

Good Quezox, why dost thou so deep despond?

Methinks the future wears a gladsome smile,

The children of thy race now spy a star

Which like to that of Bethlehem may lead

Them in the future to a state of bliss.

Quezox:

Ah, noble sire, mayhap our children may,

But what of us who years have now attained?

Francos:

Ah, Quezox, I did only figure use.

Well dost thou know it rests upon their deeds;

But demonstrate their worth and all were well,

And then we'll speed us to our native land.

Quezox:       But, noble Francos, we now wend our way

To meet the vermin which do suck our blood,

And they with tongues which serpent-like can charm

May fool thee with their tales of dire intent.

Francos: (striking his breast):

Fear not, they soon shall feel how vain it were

To seek to trick one who, in halls of state,

Hath met the wiles of shrewd, self-seeking men,

But to ward off attack with virtue's shield.

Captain and Seldonskip approach.

Captain:  Most noble potentate, as I my rounds

Of observation make, it pleasures me

Most mightily, to make obeisance to

The one so honored by his native land.

As captain of a vessel may be judged

By those subordinate to his command,

So do I quick conception of thee form.

By the broad mental gifts of Seldonskip

Who were the hose, through which thy mind doth squirt

Most sapient thought, for mankind's betterment.

Seldonskip: You bet his wisdom squirts until I feel

As if my think tank were about to bust.

Francos:  Good captain, greatly hast thou honored me

And from such worthy source, I doubly feel

The compliment were born from honor's womb;

Anon, with thee would I more converse hold.

(Captain and Seldonskip move off.)

Francos to Quezox:

Good Quezox, this young squirt doth raise my bile,

I fear some contretemps his tongue may raise.

Quezox:  Most noble sire, this youth hath long been bred,

To gentle food which fits him ill to wage.

Against his passions all sufficient strife,

I fear lest close relation works you ill.

Francos:     Alas 'tis true that soft environments,

Take hold upon the child and grip him fast.

Quezox:   And yet if seeds of manhood there inhere

'Twere time for them to sprout and outward shoot.

(Earnestly)

I like not tattling tongues yet I must voice,

A matter which hath cut me to the quick:

On yester morn, I in sweet converse joined,

With one who wears angelic form divine,

When this presuming fop with jeering eye,

Made bold to amble, with convenient ear.

Till we, forsooth, were forced to silence woo.

But let us turn awhile to pleasant thoughts.

What has been fashioned for the glorious day

When we shall thrust our journey in the past

And meet rejoicing thousands at the pier?

(Seldonskip approaches speaks)

Well, Governor, thy message hath on wings

Of lightning sped its hurried way, and now

Methinks the anxious throng which fears the ax,

Will hustle mightily for stovepipe hats

To fit surmount their trembling heads, and so

Make happy pair with coat of Tam'ny cut.

Francos:

Ha! Well 'twere done; but art thou doubly sure

That careless word of wrong import hath not

Enwoofed itself within this note of state?

Seldonskip:

You bet your life, the thing is all O. K.

Francos:

But, my good friend, what hast thou in thine hand?

(Laughingly)

Is it design of some sweet maiden fair?

(Looks at the picture and discovers Bryan)

Ha! Ha! I see, 'tis he who wrecked our choice.

This Commoner hath but a shallow mind

Which like a windmill moves a lively tongue.

(Seldonskip moves off, replacing the picture close to his

breast, muttering)

My fighting cock, you're crowing mighty loud,

But Bryan holds old Wilson in his hand.

(Francos and Quezox walk the deck)

Quezox:   Most noble sire, I marvel at the speech

Which from the mouth of Seldonskip doth flow;

For highest office, he no rev'rence feels

And "slang" were but fit outflow of his mind.

Francos:     'Tis ever thus with those born to great wealth

It swells them up and whale like they do spout.

But gold hath pow'r and it were well indeed

Not to seek combat with a foe so stout.

'Twere best to pass their idle blust'ring by

For it doth vanish like the dew at morn.

Quezox:   It vomits me to gulp the morsel down

Yet I thy hint, subservient, will obey.

(Aside)

(But wisdom whispers keep thy bolo sharp

And his fifth rib, perchance, may feel its prick.)

Francos:  But Quezox, let us in the future delve,

For time doth swiftly waft us to our port.

Where I must Caesar's message loud proclaim

And my strong obligation to you voice.

Our noble functions must be so performed,

That happy impress graves the rabble mind

But thus to meet these vultures with a smile

Doth like a colic make mine honor gripe,

Machiavelian methods were in sooth

The better physic for the patients' needs

And I like good physician must the probe

Thrust in and sound the ugly, gaping wound.

Quezox:       Most noble sire, if I may caution speak

It were to all this filthy, croaking brood

Ne'er lend an open ear, for in it they

Will honey-coated poison quick distil.

Francos:  Trust me, good Quezox, I to every thrust,

Of treach'rous blade, will offer ample shield.

Methinks I'll place them on the waiting rack

And while I promises sweet-coated make,

Will gently turn the screw until their bones

Do crack. And then to happy period make,

The ax shall deftly lop some waiting head,

With touch most skilful, mellowed by a smile.

Quezox:       And, noble sire, I pray thee hasten not

But let it pleasure thee to so proceed

That dire suspense may make the waiting wretch

More keenly feel the act of justice stern.

Sweet to my soul 'twill be to walk the street

And meet prospective victims ere they fall.

The secret, while a tonic to my soul,

Prepays me mightily for past neglect.

Francos:  But Ha! The port is nigh and we must hie

(The City in the distance)

Us to our cabins to enrobe with coats

Of Tam'ny cut, and silken stovepipe hats—

(Anxiously)

But, Quezox, tell me, shall we be beset

By bugs and fleas and snakes and creeping things?

And microbes? Are they floating in the air

So that in speech I'll dare not ope my mouth?

Seldonskip (aside) O, shucks! I should worry!

Quezox:   Most puissant Sir, dread not the microbes!

A charm, ecclesiastical, well blessed,

Will ward them off; but what befears me most

Is vermin which infest the offices.

(Seldonskip wearing a plug hat, walks slowly along leering

at Quezox).

(Speaks)  Oh Rats! Rats!! and then again more Rats!!!

ACT III Dramatis Personae

Caesar   . . . . . . Ruler of the State.
Francos . . . . . . Governor General of a Province.
Quezox  . . . . . . Resident Delegate from the Province.
Seldonskip: . . . Secretary to the Governor General.

Scene I.    Throne Room at the Capitol.

Caesar soliloquizing.

'Tis done! The die indeed is safely cast.

And Wisdom smiles, while seated on her throne.

'Twere well to kill two birds with one shrewd fling

Of fortune's stone, and thus from grievous ills

Which close enwrapped by robes of custom, are

Work freedom from the threats of cruel fate.

Francos, whose mental woof is frail indeed,

Stood for promotion to important post.

Which might embarrass all the wheels of state,

And so 'twere well within his itching hand

To place commission for those distant Isles

Where mild efficiency can work no harm.

'Tis strange that Francos in the halls of state

So long hath squatted, in a chair too big,

But still much gold can smooth a thorny path

And work discovery of hidden worth.

With modest mental gifts, but gentle mien

He ill is fitted for promotion here.

But it were matter of but little weight

With Quezox as a mentor at his side,

What he shall fashion in his pigmy state,

For squirt from wisdom's fount can quench each flame.

But Quezox? Can I trust this sable knight?

He speaketh soft, but lurking in each smile

Methinks I spy a double meaning there.

'Twere well to bring Dame Caution to the front

And hold this fellow, as he runs, in leash;

For he, while fat with wisdom, may of guile

Be deeply feeding, and from stomach weak

May spew deep discord when we least expect.

I have it! well 'tis known that Wisdom's bird,

While winging daily flight, hath hovered o'er

Our foes politic, and hath often shunned

To make her nest in Democratic boughs.

'Twere well to seek from out the tricky foe

One who shall balance, like the flying wheel,

The various acts of Francos and his crew

And so most shrewdly curb the critic tongues

That wag within the jaws of foes most keen,

Thus hiding well, from all the thoughtless world.

The deep intent which labors in our breast.

And which in time shall like the bird encased

By brittle shell, break forth and fly aloft,

Singing to startled worlds sweet freedom's song.

But woe is me! My mem'ry playeth false,

For he of ponderous girth, in Island home

Seeketh to grow more fat on public swill.

And he presumeth, justly too, on what

His silver tongue did work to boost me on.

But still, lean men are best for action keen,

For too much fatness burdeneth the mind

And speaks in trumpet tones of strong desire

For pleasures, and mayhap for cards and wine.

And so 'twere best to know this Falstaff not

For pow'r politic ne'er can from his hand

Against me work dire mischief, for his tongue

Is locked securely by our party key.

But I must call the lightning to mine aid,

And order him who now bemoans his fate,

To scan the bailiwick for pots and pans,

That Francos no discomfort may incur.

For he so long in Fate's kind lap hath lain,

That he must ill be fitted to his task

Unless luxurious easements smooth his way

And jars discomforting wring not his soul.

Exit Caesar.

Scene 2.    Ship on the Ocean.

Quezox and Francos walking the deck.

Quezox:   Most worthy Francos, so my mind hath cast

A heavy load aside, and eager now, with hope,

I long to meet the foe

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